Busy Life (Part 1)

  "All right, rest assured that you can stay until the end of the year. I have already instructed your mother to let you stay until then." Seeing her husband return to his study with a relaxed expression, Fuca also felt relieved and in a good mood.

  Such a large town government house, apart from her and her husband, as well as concubines Guan Shi, Li Jia Shi, Duo Jin Shi, Yan Shi, and Li Shi, there was not a single child, it couldn't help but feel empty and desolate. Fortunately, with Yunzhu around, her days became much more fulfilling and happy.

  It is also unknown whether it was destined by heaven, the husband's eldest son and children born out of wedlock were not few, but in the end only the eldest daughter Yinglan born to concubine Li Jia's family survived. However, she was also sent to Khorchin in the 60th year of Kangxi's reign and it was difficult for her to see him once a year.

  Let's ask the empress to recommend a good candidate for me next year, after all, I don't want to die without an heir... Fuca thought with a heart full of bitterness.

  "Sister?" Why aren't you happy again?

  "It's alright." Fu Cha stroked her little sister's head, feeling warm in her heart, thinking that even if she had a daughter of her own, it would be the same. She gently said: "The weather is getting cold soon, why not have someone make you a few more sets of clothes?"

  "I'm still growing, and making so many clothes is such a waste." Her mother had already made her quite a few, plus the ones sent by her two aunts and the ones made by her older cousin... she couldn't even wear them all in a year.

  "There will be plenty of opportunities for you to wear them out, now that you're grown up and will be going out more often. Of course, you'll need to make more clothes." Although it's not proper for a young lady who hasn't left the house yet to show her face too much, these Manchu ladies aren't too particular about this either. Besides, with the emperor's decree in place, they'll have to make at least two trips anyway. "As it happens, I have some fur that the empress dowager gave me not long ago, so I can use it to make you a few winter clothes, including a cloak and a hat."

  "Yes." Yunzhu could only hope that time would pass quickly, so she could return to the mansion and continue her life as a recluse. In fact, on ordinary days, she was also busy taking care of the health of those around her, but that was voluntary, unlike following the emperor's orders, which gave her a sense of mission-driven busyness.

  Actually, life hasn't changed much.

  At three quarters past the fourth watch, Yunzhu got out of bed and sat quietly for a while before doing half an hour of yoga on the mat. After finishing her toilette, she went to the small kitchen, put the juice from the green jade lan fruit into the sheep's milk cooked with almonds, and divided the golden silk wheat cake, lotus leaf roll, and golden silver rice ball made by Yiyu early in the morning into three portions: one for herself, one for her sister and brother-in-law, and one sent to San A'ge.

  After finishing breakfast, it was almost 9 o'clock. Yunzhu went to the main courtyard to pay respects to Yunchu and Fucha Shi, and followed Fucha Shi to watch her handle official business. At 10 o'clock, Yunzhu returned to Lan Courtyard to read books (such as medical books and travel notes) and practice calligraphy for an hour. At 11 o'clock, Yiya began preparing lunch (similar to breakfast), and Yunzhu finished eating at around 12:40. After a nap, she woke up at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and continued her artistic training (such as embroidery, painting, and playing the piano). Sometimes, she would change it to teach the rules of etiquette or review various materials - thanks to her birth into a prominent Manchu clan with a good family background (connected to the imperial court and upper society), etiquette had been deeply ingrained in her since childhood. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, she went to the large kitchen to see what fresh ingredients were available and ordered dinner. After finishing dinner at 7 o'clock in the evening, she took a bath and went to bed at 8 o'clock.

  But she paid more attention to eating three meals a day. From time to time, she would ask about the health of her third brother who was recuperating and how much he had eaten...

  As for King Yi of Qin——

  Thanks to the book "Dream Back to the Great Qing" before the end of the world, Yunzhu had searched online for a lot of information about the Thirteen A'ge and the Thirteen Furen, including the symptoms and traditional Chinese medicine treatment methods of "Crane Knee Wind", as well as dietary therapy... but it's unknown whether they are useful or not.

  Yunzhu's medical knowledge was mostly learned out of necessity in the end times, lacking theory. After crossing over to the Qing dynasty, due to knowing her fate and needing to survive, she diligently studied all knowledge related to medicine, especially those that might be used in internal palace struggles. However, there is more theory than practice, so it's hard to say what her current actual level is.

  To be on the safe side, she invited Chen Taifu, who was in charge of treating Prince Yi, to discuss some medical issues with him and also asked about Prince Yi's symptoms.

  As for the illness of Prince Yi, Imperial Physician Chen had a belly full of bitter water. The Emperor was concerned about them as imperial physicians and naturally wanted to do their best. But not only was Prince Yi's "illness" difficult to treat, but even the "patient" himself didn't take it seriously. What kind of thing is this?

  Chen Taichang's expression was suffocating, and Yunzhu deeply sympathized with her. She was also feeling stifled now. Others were imperial physicians who worried about the health of their patients' bodies being normal, but she, an eight-banner noblewoman, was anxious about this - what kind of situation was this?

  Power is truth, she could only smile and slowly chat with him, bringing out the therapeutic methods she had seen in her memory, asking Chen Taifu if this was more targeted and effective for Prince Yi's illness.

  "I think the princess's idea is excellent, and at least in the early stages of the disease, it can be effectively controlled... However, the prince's condition has already affected his lungs, and I'm not sure if it will work..." Dr. Chen hesitated, this princess had a good understanding of medical knowledge, and her insights on food therapy were astonishing, what surprised him most was that she didn't have the usual rigid thinking of ordinary doctors, her thoughts were very open and flexible... Her proposal to combine medicine and food therapy with reasonable processing was very insightful. Unfortunately, it's a pity that we didn't know about this a few years ago, now these therapeutic methods haven't been clinically tested, so I don't know if they are still applicable."

  Yun You and Fu Cha's feelings were quite surprising, they didn't expect that Yunzhu, a thirteen-year-old girl, would understand so much, although it was just some theoretical things. However, when she talked about food therapy, the confidence on her face made them realize that she was very confident... Thinking back to the recipes she had been making for everyone every day, the two of them suddenly realized that the little girl had been using food to regulate their physical health all along, and she did it with a purpose and targeted approach, rather than just making some delicious and nourishing things.

  After Chen Taifu left, Yunzhu, who had some understanding of Yi Qinxin's illness, began to think about how to get started.

  She didn't know that at this time, in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yongzheng was also talking about her with Prince Yi.

  I didn't expect that the fourth brother would invite himself to drink tea, Yunxiang was extremely surprised. In the past, when he was a prince, the fourth brother had always expressed his intention to be the "number one idle person in the world" to the emperor. He often did things like brewing tea and farming, but after ascending to the throne, his diligent governance made even himself unbearable, and now what's going on?

  He guessed that the expression on his face must be extremely strange, otherwise the fourth brother would not have a bad face, and put the half-full teacup "slap" in front of him. "How can I not make tea for nothing?"

  "I don't know what kind of good tea gets treated like this, but my fourth brother can finally have a good taste." Yun Xiang smiled, rarely seeing his fourth brother so relaxed. However, the flavor of this tea is actually quite ordinary.

  "It's just that I heard a phrase 'Rest is for walking a longer distance' the day before yesterday, and I had some feelings. In the past, I was often criticized by my father for being 'impatient', but isn't it true? After ascending to the throne, seeing the empty treasury, corrupt officials, and unstable borders, how can he not be anxious? He threw himself into government affairs in one breath, and his body gradually showed signs of collapse. Looking at old thirteen, who looked even more haggard than myself, it's really not pleasant."

  Yun Xiang was taken aback by what he heard, and slowly digested the words, feeling that they made a lot of sense.

  "Thirteen, Hongshi told me that once he left the imperial family, he didn't want to come back." Yongzheng felt a bit melancholy. Towards Hongshi, he wasn't without regret or self-reproach, but words spoken were like spilled water; even if he wanted to retract his orders now, his son with strong self-respect and as proud and stubborn as himself wouldn't be willing to return either.

  But he didn't really lose him after all.

  "Twelfth Brother was actually able to bring Hong Shi back? Yun Xiang was shocked again, and after a while, he said: "Then what does he plan to do?"

  What's the plan? Yongzheng sighed with a bitter smile: "He wants to 'die'." This son really didn't care about anything. He had secretly gone to the Prince of Jingguo's residence three times, and this was the result he got.

  Yunxiang didn't realize it for a while, but Hongshi's "death" was actually fake death. For an instant, Yunxiang felt a little jealous, thinking that when he was being rejected by the Emperor back then, he never thought of leaving the imperial family and disappearing from history forever. Hongshi was different from him, he had more ambition than Hongshi. If Hongshi wanted to prove himself to Fourth Brother, then he not only wanted to prove to the Emperor that he was not inferior to any of his sons but also wanted to prove to the world that he loved Xin Anruo. Yunxiang also had great ambitions.

  "What's next?"

  Then? "Who knows what that stinky kid wants to do? Maybe he's going out to sea. Do you think he can get along with Hongli?" Yongzheng sighed again, he still understood his several sons, Hongyao was okay, that kid was clever and could yield, but Hongshi had already openly clashed with Hongli for so long, would it really be possible for him to bow his head and admit defeat to Hongli and live in peace?

  Yunxiang was stunned and didn't speak. Can an emperor be as trusting of his own brother as the Fourth Brother is? Others say that the Fourth Brother is stingy and unkind, but as long as you are loyal to him, he has never treated you unfairly, and at heart, he is a sentimental person... Hongli, now that he can show respect for his elder brother and the ministers in front of them, who knows what he really thinks? If it were truly like this, the Fourth Brother wouldn't have chosen him as his successor.

  Hongshi, no retreat is also a retreat, only this time, he has thought it through and is willing. As long as he "dies", the threat to Hongli will disappear, and his wife and children can have a stable life.

  "Li Rongbao's daughter is now living in the Zhen Guo Gong Fu, and the bodies of the 12th brother and sister have improved a lot under her care." Yongzheng said suddenly.

  I suppose the phrase "Rest is for a longer journey" was learned from her, Yunxiang smiled. "The young lady and Hongtun's wife got along well with her, and gave Hongtun's wife many medicinal recipes, my brother's body also benefited from it."

  "So I'll let her stay with Old Twelve for a few more days." Yongzheng said bluntly, "Later, have your younger siblings invite her to the mansion to play, I think it would be good for the little girl to help you recover too, after all, she was the one who snatched Li Rongbao back from the King of Hell's clutches..."

  "Fourth Brother——" Yun Xiang's eyes were slightly red.

  "Tired, then rest. Fourth brother has also come to realize that this Qing dynasty is not something that can be fixed in a year or two, we have to struggle with it slowly!"